Daily Archives: July 27, 2012

Some students want Asian food, others sub sandwiches, and all of them want more pizza options. But the Baker County school district wants students to eat healthier foods, and it’s Cathy Golon’s job to see that both groups are happy.

Beginning August 20, when students return from summer break and experience the district’s revamped meals program, she’ll know if she succeeded.

Ms. Golon, the district’s nutrition services director, has been working with a Winter Springs, FL consultant, Sue Tatum of Vinca Marketing & Communications, to implement changes to the program, many of which are mandated by the federal agency responsible for funding about 70 percent of it.

They’ve revised school menus, but also how the food is presented to students, in hopes of making district-provided meals more appetizing and more nutritious. That way, Ms. Golon said, more students will participate in meal plans, which helps “keep them on campus and keep them safe.”

The effort started last spring when Ms. Tatum conducted focus groups and surveys with students at the middle and high schools to uncover their preferences. She was paid with a $4000 grant from the USDA (Department of Agriculture), the same agency that funds most the district’s food services budget.

“We wanted them to share what they wanted for the upcoming school year and we explained how the meal patterns would be changing and how best to combine those,” Ms. Golon explained this week.

For instance, she said, students on school meal plans will be required to have a specified amount of a “red-orange” vegetables, like carrots or sweet potatoes, but they prefer them as is, rather than made into something else, like sweet potato fries or carrot cake.

“We’re taking what they said to heart as we’re making the changes,” Ms. Golon said.

When Robert Godwin retired as a guard at Florida State Prison last year he didn’t waste any time starting a new career as the owner of a new pawn shop in downtown Macclenny. In December, he and his son opened Pawnderosa in a strip center on South 6th Street.

“I retired from the state prison system after 26 years,” Mr. Godwin said this week. “This is my first business endeavor.”

He and his son, Robert Godwin Jr., pooled their talents and money to buy the space formerly occupied by Wings Galore. After extensive renovation and remodeling they opened for business the day after Christmas.

Business was slow at first, but grew gradually and really began to pick up considerably after they hired two young women about two months ago to walk up and down the sidewalk out front holding up signs advertising the business, which is set back about 100 feet from the road.

“People come in here all the time and say, ‘We seen your sign girls out there and that’s why we came in here,’” Mr. Godwin Sr. said.

Human sign bearers have become a popular method of advertising for a number of businesses, including pawn shops, cell phone companies and restaurants. Their days appear to be numbered, however, as the Macclenny City Commission is moving forward with a plan to ban such advertising next month.

A public hearing has been scheduled for 6 pm on August 14 to vote on an amendment to the city’s sign code prohibiting “human signs.” The measure was given preliminary approval on July 10.

Specifically, the prohibition would extend to persons carrying signs or dressed in costumes designed to attract attention for a commercial advertisement. Currently, signs carried by a person are permitted.

Joseph Burnell Moore, Sr., 75, of Macclenny died July 20, 2012. He was born in Wayne County, Georgia to the late Jessie Albert Moore and Myrtice O’Neal Moore on February 13, 1937 and lived in Baker County most of his life. Joseph honorably served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War and later was a carpenter in the construction field. He loved visiting with family and friends, playing cards and fishing. He loved his church and his family. He was predeceased by his wife of 34 years, Dollie Mae Moore, and siblings Ruth Douglas, Ruby Williams and Marie Ragsdale.

Marilyn Jane “Gal” Sanders, 75, of Orlando died on Monday, July 23, 2012. She was born April 8, 1937 to the late Joseph Paul and Wenona Elizabeth Etheridge Miller. A retired floral designer, Ms. Sanders enjoyed arts and crafts, playing video and computer games, and spending time with her family, which she loved most of all.

She is survived by her loving sons Eddy (Cindy) Sanders Jr. of Sanderson and Jack (Margorie) Sanders of Orlando; daughters Donna Kay North of Jacksonville, Suzy (Keith) Cumpston of Glen St. Mary, and Wendy (Wayne) Vincent of Fernandina Beach; sister Helen Wilson and brother Bo (Barbara) Miller, both of Callahan; fifteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.